The Ukrainian stamp with the image of legendary Transcarpathian postman Feodor Feketa won silver award at the international competition of the Union of State Postal Operators of Europe (PostEurop) for the best stamp of Europe 2020.
The international competition of postage stamps "The best stamp of Europe 2020" was devoted to the theme "Ancient postal routes". So Ukraine presented a postage stamp dedicated to the Transcarpathian postman Fedor Feketa, who is a true legend and local hero, because he covered almost 50 km to deliver mail to fellow villagers. The image on the stamp was made by artist Iryna Medvedovska.
For more than 30 years, the legendary Fedor Feketa (1791-1838) travelled daily through the mountains, meadows and forests to Uzhhorod and back to his native village of Turia Remety. As a result, it is 50 kilometers a day - more than a marathon! The stamp is a personification of gratitude to every postman, operator, driver, courier, head of the department, who do their best to ensure that hundreds of thousands of letters and items are sent to all corners of Ukraine.
The PostEurop jury consisted of eight philatelic experts, including artists, collectors and bloggers from Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France, Slovenia and Luxembourg. The Ukrainian brand won silver in the "Choice of the jury" nomination.
Ukrainian postage stamps are among the best in the world, as evidenced by numerous philatelic awards. Only last year, two stamps won the Nexofil Award 2020 international competition (Madrid, Spain): the gold medal "Glory to Ukraine!" Won gold. for the most original format in the world, the second place in the category "The best brand in the world for offset printing technology" was taken by the brand "Shirt (fragment). Chernihiv region".
Postage stamps under the Europa programme "National Birds" - "White Stork" and "Oriental Nightingale" (2019), made by Natalia Kohal, won first place in the competition "The best stamp in Europe - the choice of the collector 2019". "The Insects of Ukraine" branded sheet (2018) by Oleksandr and Serhiy Harukiv won three awards at once - the WIPA Grand Prix (Austria), the Nexofil Award (Spain) and Asiago (Italy).
In total, during the 30 years of independence, Ukrposhta has put into circulation almost 2,000 stamps.